Reverse gear for outboard motor underwater units



Dec. 30, 1952 E, C, KlE'KHAEFER 2,623,490

REVERSE GEAR F OR OUTBOARD MOTOR UNDERWATER UNITS Filed June 23, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l lla Dec. 30, 1952 E. c. KIEKHAEFER REVERSE GEAR FOR oUTBoARD MOTOR UNDERWATEE UNITS Filed June 23, 1950 l y Il w E l n. j l 7 ZIE Patented Dec. 30,` 1952 REVERSE GEAR FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR UNDERWATER UNITS Elmer C. Kiekhaefer, Cedarburg, Wis.

Application December 23, 1950, Serial No. 202,479

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to outboard motors and particularly to underwater reverse-gear propeller units and this application is a continuation in part of the copending application of the present inventor led March 24, 1949, Serial No. 83,250 and entitled Engine Mounting and Control System.

The invention provides an improved mechanical actuation for control of the underwater unit.

A principal object of the invention is to provide greater ease of manual control of the lower underwater unit.

A more particular object is to provide an improved actuating lever for a lower underwater clutch unit with an axial movement in one direction against a spring operating in the opposite direction.

A further object is to reduce to a minimum the outer dimensions of the unit for maximum possible stream-lining while providing a serviceable, dependable shift mechanism within.

Another obpject is to provide a more positive clutch actuation and control. I'hese and other objects and advantages will be more fully set forth in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an outboard motor with parts thereof broken away and sectioned.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section of the lower end of the underwater unit of the motor shown in Figure 1;

Fig. `3 is a transverse vertical section of the underwater unit shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the lower unit taken through the axis of the propeller shaft showing the clutch device in neutral position; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the clutch in the position for reverse drive.

The outboard motor shown in the drawings includes the engine I, shown in part, and the hollow cast drive shaft housing 2 which supports engine I thereon and carries the underwater unit 3 at the lower end thereof.

The drive shaft 4 connected directly to the lower end of the vertical engine crankshaft 5 extends downwardly through housing 2 into the housing 6 of unit 3.

Housing 6 comprises a single cast member and bolts I and 8.

The motor is supported by the screw-clamp bracket 9 adapted to be removably secured to the boat transom Ill, shown in section in Fig. 1. The swivel bracket I I is carried by bracket 9 for pivotal movement on the transverse pin ||2 which provides for tilting of the motor and raising and lowering of the underwater unit 3. t

The forward edge of housing 2 is recessed to receive bracket II and the vertical hollow pin or sleeve I3 carried by bracket II which projects upwardly and downwardly into bushings I4 set in the forward edge of housing 2. Pin I3 serves to support the motor for turning movement on a vertical axis as with the tiller I5 which turns the motor including lower unit 3 to control the direction of movement or steering of the boat.

The lower unit 3 includes the propeller I6 'which is mounted rearwardly on the shaft I'I.

The bearing I8 in the forward portion of housing 6 supports the forward end of shaft Il therein and bearing I9 in housing 6 spaced rearwardly of bearing I8 supports the shaft intermediate its ends on the bushing 20 mounted on the shaft.

The forward bevel gear 8I is freely mounted on shaft I1 for rotation thereon or to rotate therewith. The rear bevel gear 22 is supported by the bearing 23 in housing 6 for rotation with or independently of shaft I'I on coincident axes.

The upper and lower bearings 24 and 25, respectively. journally carry shaft 4 in housing 6 on a projected vertical axis intersecting the axis of shaft 4.

The gear 26 is secured by the bolt 2l to the `,plined lower end of shaft 4 to mesh with gears 2I and 22 and to drive the same in opposite directions. Y

Each of the gears 2| and 22 is formed with a series of clutch teeth 28 in adjacent faces and which are adapted to be engaged by the flat bar 29 carried in the slot 30 by shaft I'I.

Bar 29 is axially movable within slot 3U, and dimensioned so as to be selectively engageable with the teeth 28 of either of gears 2| orl 22 or to be disposed between the gears and free thereof.

According to the invention, the movement of bar 29 is effected by rotating the vertical shaft 3l carried by housing B with the lower end thereof extending into the cavity 32 in housing 6 ahead of the forward end of shaft I1. The lower reduced end 33 of control shaft 3l is turned on a center which is eccentric from the center of the shaft body and forms the inner race of the roller bearings 34 in the retainer ring 35'. A center hole drilled in the forward end of shaft I'I extends beyond slot 30 in the shaft to carry the spring 36 in the forward end thereof and forwardly of slot 3i).

The plug 3l and pin 33 are disposed in hole 35 and fit corresponding notches in the forward and rear edges of bar 29. The Width of slot 3i) provided in shaft Il is narrower than the diameters of hole 35, or plug 31 and pin 3&3 so that the latter upon assembly secure bar 2S against displacement radially of shaft II as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Spring St is compressed within hole 35 against plug 3l and normally urges bar 2S in a direction axially of shaft I1 into engagement with the teeth 23 of gear 2l to effect rotational engagement of gear 2l and shaft I'I to rotate propeller I6 for forward propulsion.

The forward end of pin 38 projects from the hole 35 in shaft Il into cavity 32 and is disposed to be engaged by the outer retainer 35 of rollers 34 upon rotation of control shaft 3| as will be described. Rotation of control shaft 3l approximately 90 moves retainer 35 against pin 3S and moves bar 2Q to a neutral position between gears 2l and 22 in which the bar is not in engagement with the teeth 2@ of either gear. In such neutral position, engine I may be operating without driving the propeller i6.

' Further rotation of control shaft Si moves ring 35 retaining rollers and through pin 38 pushes bar 29 against spring 3S and into engagement with teeth 28 of gear 22 to effect rotational engagement of gear 2l and shaft i1 to rotate propeller I6 in a reverse direction.

Rotation of control shaft 3l is effected by the control handle 39 whichextends forwardly of the motor over tiller I 5 and is mounted on the upper end of the control rod dll.

Control rod it is supported for rotation within pivot pin I3 and extends downwardly through the pin and the forward leading edge of housing 2.

The bore il in the forward leading edge of housing 6 is disposed to receive the lower end of rod 40 and supports shaft 3| therein rotationally. Shaft `3| is axially supported on the lower end 33 by the portion of housing 6 forming the lower face of cavity 32. The lower end d2 of rod Ml is squared to nt a corresponding square hole in the upper end of shaft 3I and rotationally secure rod it and shaft 3l for operation as described.

Rod 4B is disengageable from shaft 3l merely upon removal of the lower unit 3 from housing 2` Shaft 3i is preferably of substantial diameter to provide the necessary movement' of pin 38 which is determined by the radius or offset of the reduced end 33 of the shaft. The size of the shaft is easily accommodated vertically in the forward leading edge of housing t and within the `desired dimensional limitations of the housing. Shaft 3l is rotationally disposed and supported substantially its entire length in bore di so thatl radial loads in turning against spring Se will not bind the shaft.

-The rollers 33 additionally assure ease of turning to effect shifting of bar 29 as described. Disassembly of lower unit 3 and' housing 5 from housing 2 can accordingly be accomplished without attention to the control shift mechanism or disconnecting the same.

Various embodiments of the invention may. be employed within the scope of the following claims.

l claim:

l. In an outboard motor supported at its upper end for pivotal movement on a hollow vertical pin and having a shift mechanism at Vits lowerA end including an axially movable horizontal control pin, a vertical control shaft extending through said pivot pin and having an eccentric lower end adjacent to and engageable with one end of said control pin, and a manual control arm secured to the upper end of said control .shaft above said pin for effecting rotation of said control shaft and movement of the eccentric lower end thereof and said control pin.

2. In an outboard motor, a drive shaft housing, a lower underwater streamlined gear housing carried by said drive shaft housing and having a chamber forwardly therein, a propeller shaft carried by said gear housing with one end of the shaft facing said chamber, driven gears rotating in opposite directions within said gear housing on the axis of said propeller shaft, drive means carried by said propeller shaft and axially movable with respect thereto and selectively into driving engagement with one of said gears to effect rotation of said shaft in either direction, said means including a pin carried by said shaft and projecting centrally from the end thereof into said chamber, and a vertical control shaft rotatably carried within the forward leading edge portion of said gear housing and having an eccentrically formed bearing member projecting into said chamber and engageable with said pin to move the latter upon rotation of said control shaft and to actuate said drive means.

3. An outboard motor including a drive shaft housing supported at its upper end for pivotal movement on a hollow vertical pin-and. having a shift mechanism at its lower end including an axially movable horizontal control pin, la lower underwater streamlined gear housing carried by said drive shaft housing and having a chamber forwardly ther-ein, a. propeller shaft carried by said gear housing with one end of said shaft facing said chamber, Ydriven gearsV rotating in opposite directions within said gear housing on the axis of said .propeller shaft, clutch means carried by said propeller shaft and axially movable with respect thereto and selectively into driving engagement with one of said gears to effect rotation of said shaft in eitherI direction, said means including said pin carried by said shaft and projecting centrally from. the end thereof into said chamber, a shaft rotatably carried by said gear housing having aneccentrically vformed bearing member projecting into said chamber and engageable with said pin to move the latter upon rotation of said shaft and ,actuate said clutch means, a vertical control rod extending through said pivot pin and rotatably .engageable with shaft, and a manual'control arm secured to the upper end of said control rod .above said pin for effecting rotation vof said rst named shaft. and movement of the eccentric lower bearing member and said pin.

e. In an outboard motor, a drive shaft housing, a lower underwater streamlined gea-r housing carried by said drive shaft housing and having a chamber forwardly therein, a propeller shaft carried by said gear vhousing 4with one .end thereof facing said chamber, driven gears rotating in opposite directions within said gear housing on the axis of said propeller shaft, drive means carried by said propeller shaft and laxially movable with respect thereto and selectively into driving engagement with one of said gears -to effect rotation of said shaft in either direction, sai-d means including a pin carried by said shaft and projecting' centrally from the end thereof into said chamber, a control shaft rotatably carried by said gear housing having a reduced eccentrically formed trunnion member projecting into said chamber and a roller bearing assembled on said bearing member and including an outer retaining race engageable with said pin to move the latter upon rotation of said control shaft and providing a surface engaging said pin endwise with substantially nominal angularity to actuate said drive means.

5. An outboard motor including a drive shaft housing supported at its upper end for pivotal movement on a hollow vertical pin and having a shift mechanism at its lower end including an axially movable horizontal control pin, a lower underwater streamlined gear housing carried by said drive shaft housing and having a chamber forwardly therein, a propeller shaft carried by said gear housing with one end of said shaft facing said chamber, driven gears rotating in opposite directions within said gear housing on the axis of said propeller shaft, clutch means carried by said propeller shaft and axially movable with respect theretoand selectively into driving engagement with one of said gears to effect rotation of said shaft in either direction, said means including said pin carried by said shaft and projecting centrally from the end thereof into said chamber, a shaft rotatably carried by said gear housing having an eccentrically disposed roller bearing unit slidably supported. in said chamber and engageable with said pin to move the latter upon rotation of said shaft and actuate said clutch means, a vertical control rod extending through said pivot pin and rotatably engageable with said shaft, and a manual control arm secured to the upper end of said control rod above said pin for effecting rotation of said firstnamed shaft and movement of the eccentric lower bearing unit and said pin.

6. In an outboard motor including a hollow vertical pin supporting the motor for steering movement and having a shift mechanism at its lower end including an axially movable horizontal control pin, a vertical control rod extending through said pivot pin and having an eccentric roller bearing adjacent to and engageable with one end of said control pin, and la manual control arm secured to the upper end of said control shaft above said pin for effecting rotation of said bearing and movement of said control pin.

7. In an underwater lower unit for an outboard motor including a driving gear and oppositely disposed and spaced driven gears rotating in opposite directions on a single axis, a propeller shaft extending through said driven gears and journally supported on said axis, said driven gears having clutch teeth formed in adjacent faces thereof, a flat bar carried flatwise within a slot formed in said shaft between said driven gears, said bar projecting from said shaft radially thereof and movable in said slot between said driven gears into selective driving engagement with the clutch teeth of one thereof, said shaft having fa central axial bore opening at one end thereof, a pin having one end thereof disposed in said bore and tting in a notch centrally in the corresponding edge of said bar and movable longitudinally in said bore to move said bar in one direction in said slot, and spring means in said bore engaging said bar in a second notch in the corresponding other edge thereof and disposed to bias said bar in the opposite direction, said pin and spring means securing said bar against displacement in said slot radially of said shaft, and manually operable eccentric means engageable with the other end of said pin to effect movement of said pin and said bar in one direction and against said spring means to limit movement of said bar and said pin by said spring means in the otherI direction.

8. In an underwater lower unit for an outboard motor including a gear housing and oppositely disposed and spaced driven gears rotating in opposite directions on a single axis, a propeller shaft extending through said driven gears and journally supported within said housing on said axisJ said driven gears having clutch teeth formed in adjacent faces thereof, a fiat bar carried flatwise within a slot formed in said shaft between said driven gears, said bar projecting from said shaft and movable in said slot between said driven gears into selective driving engagement with the clutch teeth of one thereof, said shaft having a central axial bore opening at one end thereof, a pin having one end thereof disposed in said bore and fitting in a notch centrally in the corresponding edge of said bar and movable longitudinally to move said bar in one direction in said slot, and spring means in said bore engaging said bar in a second notch in the corresponding other edge thereof and disposed to bias said bar in the opposite direction, said pin and spring means securing said bar against displacement in said slot radially of said shaft, and a control shaft rotatably carried by said gear housing and having an eccentrically formed bearing portion engageable with the other end of said pin to effect movement of said pin and said bar in one direction and against said spring means to limit movement of said bar and said pin by said spring means in the other direction.

ELMER C. KIEKHAEFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,192,377 Blakely July 25, 1916 1,261,346 Bivert Apr. 2, 1918 1,844,386 Harris Feb. 9, 1932 

